Gang-up against maternal, child mortality

The Japanese government is collaborating with the Lagos State government by providing medical equipment that will help fight maternal, child mortality in the state.

The development is coming just as the state government today will flagged off its series of grassroots sensitisation on maternal and child mortality reduction across various local government areas in the state.

The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, who led a delegation to the state Ministry of Health, Alausa to present the facilities, described the gesture as way of improving maternal and child health in the state by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

He said: “Looking at the situation of maternal and child health in Nigeria, it is worrisome to note that mortality rate is very high due to lack of health care facilities, medical equipment and medical practitioners. We wish to help remedy this situation by forming a partnership with the Nigerian people. All the efforts made by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in tackling these issues are absolutely notable.

“This project will provide equipment such as delivery beds and ECG machines, which measures the rate and regularity of heartbeats, to 10 public health centres in Lagos State.”

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, commended their gesture, which he said, will be of immense benefit to the people. Idris said a proposed town hall meeting was geared towards informing citizens, especially grassroots pregnant women, about the basic facilities provided by government to them before and after child birth.

He said since the launch of the maternal and child mortality reduction initiative by Governor Babatunde Fashola in October last year, the government had mapped out strategies to reduce the scourge.